Chief Development Officer

Chief Development Officer | Rescue Mission Alliance

About

Founded in 1972, Rescue Mission Alliance (RMA) is a Christ-centered nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty find hope and lasting transformation. What began as a single location on 6th Street in Oxnard has grown into a multi-site ministry serving communities across several counties in Southern California.

Through emergency services, recovery programs, and long-term rehabilitation initiatives, RMA provides a comprehensive continuum of care designed to help people move beyond immediate crisis toward stability and restored purpose.

Today, RMA operates with an annual budget of approximately $30 million and generates roughly $8 million in philanthropic support from a broad base of more than 18,000 donors. As the organization looks toward the future, RMA is preparing for significant ministry expansion, including a potential capital campaign to support the development of a new campus focused on serving women and children exiting trafficking.

Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity for a strategic fundraising leader to build and scale a high-impact development program within a growing faith-based ministry. Rescue Mission Alliance already benefits from a strong donor base and meaningful community support, yet leadership believes there is significant room for philanthropic growth.

The Chief Development Officer will have the opportunity to strengthen major and mid-level giving strategies, deepen relationships with transformational donors, and help position the organization for a future capital campaign tied to the expansion of ministry services.

With approximately $8 million in current philanthropic revenue and a highly engaged donor community of more than 18,000 supporters, the organization believes the right leader could significantly expand donor engagement and philanthropic investment over the next five years.

The CDO will join a stable and forward-looking leadership team committed to building best-in-class fundraising infrastructure while maintaining the relational, mission-driven culture that defines Rescue Mission Alliance’s ministry.

Position Summary

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a strategic executive leader responsible for advancing Rescue Mission Alliance’s mission through the development and execution of a comprehensive fundraising and donor engagement strategy.

Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of the Executive Team, the CDO will provide vision, leadership, and accountability for philanthropic revenue growth and donor strategy.

This leader will strengthen and expand RMA’s development function while helping the organization realize significant growth potential in major and mid-level giving over the coming years.

The CDO will work closely with the CEO, Leadership Team, and Board members to deepen donor relationships, strengthen fundraising strategy, and position the organization for future campaign success.

Key Responsibilities

Executive and Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a key strategic partner to the CEO in shaping RMA’s philanthropic growth strategy and donor engagement vision.

• Oversee a comprehensive development program that includes major gifts, mid-level giving, annual giving, donor retention, donor acquisition, digital fundraising, direct response, grants, and planned giving.

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with RMA’s mission and organizational priorities.

• Strengthen long-term development strategy across major gifts, mid-level giving, and emerging donor segments.

• Provide leadership in annual planning, fundraising goals, revenue forecasting, development budgets, and performance metrics.

• Evaluate fundraising performance, donor trends, and market opportunities while recommending strategic adjustments and innovation.

• Prepare the organization for future campaign readiness, including leadership of a major capital campaign supporting RMA’s long-term ministry expansion.

Fundraising and Donor Development

• Personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospective donors, leading cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of transformational gifts.

• Partner with the CEO to identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with high-capacity donors, foundations, churches, and corporate partners.

• Strengthen the donor pipeline strategy across giving levels, including approximately 1,100 mid-level donors currently engaged by the organization.

• Expand major gift and leadership donor strategies to support long-term revenue growth.

Leadership and Internal Collaboration

• Provide leadership and direction for RMA’s development team including the Major Gifts Officer, Mid-Level Giving Officer, grants staff, development operations personnel, and supporting team members.

• Collaborate closely with the VP of Engagement and marketing team to ensure alignment of donor communications, messaging, and engagement strategy.

• While the VP of Engagement does not report directly to the CDO, the roles maintain strong partnership and coordination across donor strategy and communications.

• Foster strong collaboration between Development, Marketing/Engagement, Finance, and program leadership.

• Work collaboratively with the Leadership Team, Directors, and Board members to align fundraising priorities with ministry needs and strategic initiatives.

• Build a culture of accountability, excellence, relational leadership, and mission alignment within the development function.

Development Operations, Systems, and Analytics

• Oversee donor systems, reporting, data integrity, and fundraising analytics to support sound strategic decision making.

• Ensure effective use of development technology platforms including Raiser’s Edge and Blackbaud tools.

• Partner appropriately with Finance regarding reporting, reconciliation, and financial stewardship of development activity.

• Establish and monitor dashboards and performance indicators to evaluate donor engagement, pipeline movement, and revenue growth.

• Ensure effective stewardship processes, donor communication practices, and compliance with development policies.

External Presence and Representation

• Represent RMA with professionalism and credibility in donor meetings, church settings, community events, and speaking engagements.

• Strengthen the organization’s philanthropic reputation and external visibility in ways that support RMA’s mission and ministry impact.

• Support RMA’s continued reputation for excellence in stewardship, accountability, and ministry leadership.

Qualifications

• Committed believer in Jesus Christ whose life reflects Christian character and conduct consistent with RMA’s Statement of Faith.

• Full agreement with RMA’s Statement of Faith, mission, vision, and values.

• Active involvement in and good standing with a local evangelical church.

• Proven experience serving in a Chief Development Officer role or comparable senior fundraising leadership role.

• Minimum of 7 to 10 years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience.

• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising and strategic donor development.

• Experience partnering closely with CEOs, executive teams, and boards in advancing fundraising strategy.

• Experience leading and developing fundraising staff and teams.

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred in nonprofit leadership, business, communications, marketing, or related field.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Strategic thinker with strong executive presence and sound judgment.

• Strong relational and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage donors, ministry leaders, and community partners.

• Outgoing and engaging personality with the ability to represent the organization effectively.

• Strong instincts around fundraising strategy, donor relationships, and revenue growth.

• Demonstrated success in major gifts, donor portfolio management, and moves management strategy.

• Ability to integrate fundraising efforts with marketing and donor engagement strategies.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM platforms such as Raiser’s Edge and Blackbaud.

• Familiarity with fundraising analytics and data-driven decision making.

• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, faith-based ministry environment.

Work Schedule and Location

This position is based in Oxnard, California. Hybrid flexibility may be considered for the right candidate with an expectation of regular in-office presence and travel throughout the organization’s service region.

Physical Demands

This role requires extended periods of working at a desk, computer, and in meetings, along with travel to donor meetings, ministry sites, events, and community functions.

Work Environment

This position primarily functions in an office environment but also requires regular presence at ministry locations, donor events, and community settings.

Salary & Benefits

Compensation for the Chief Development Officer includes a competitive salary commensurate with experience ($200,000-$225,000) and an excellent package of employee benefits which includes medical, dental, vision, retirement, professional development, leave and holidays.

To Apply

Interested applicants should send a resume and a statement of interest to Ryan Rasmussen, Recruiter at View email address on click.appcast.io .

Rescue Mission Alliance is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment based on race, color, creed, sex, age, disability or medical condition, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. Rescue Mission Alliance focuses on ability, training, and performance when taking employment actions.